LAHORE: Pakistan cricket’s showpiece event, the much-awaited Pakistan Super League final, will get underway today amid lot of fanfare and unprecedented security with Peshawar Zalmi having the edge over their rivals Quetta Gladiators due to its seasoned foreigner players who have braved the odds to be in Lahore despite absence of flamboyant Shahid Afridi owing to injury.

The closing ceremony, which precedes the 8pm final, will commence at 6.00pm while massive fireworks have been planned at the conclusion of the big game, subject to permission from the security agencies.

The Peshawar Zalmi team management has announced that all their foreign players — Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Chris Jordan, David Malan and Samit Patel — are set to play in Lahore, setting aside security concerns to bolster their team’s chances.

However, the beleaguered Quetta Gladiators will be without their key foreign players such as Kevin Pietersen, Tymal Mills, Luke Wright and Rilee Rossouw who have already left for their respective homelands. Quetta, however, have drafted in four fresh foreign cricketers in Sean Ervine (Zimbabwe), Morne Van Wyk (South Africa), Elton Chigumbura (Zimbabwe) and Rayad Emrit (West Indies) for the final.

Quetta Gladiators playing the final for the second time seem quite a worn-out side but their coach, former Pakistan captain Moin Khan played down the handicap of his team and said: “Though our team will feel absence of big cricketers, the new players are also professionals and know their responsibility.”

“It will be a thrilling final on Sunday and the huge turnout at the Gaddafi Stadium will add to it’s flavour,” maintained the former captain, adding that this time round “the Gladiators will emerge as champions.”

On the other hand, Quetta Gladiators’ captain Sarfraz Ahmed reposed trust in local players. “People want to see how much talented our national cricketers are,” stated Pakistan T20 captain while referring to absence of foreign players in his team.

“I hope the stadium will be packed to its capacity on Sunday,” said Sarfraz who further added that the spectators were upbeat about the conduct of the final and the fever has also rubbed on his charged up players.

It will be the fourth clash between the two teams as they have met thrice in the league stage and the play-off. So far both the teams won one match each with their first face-off being abandoned due to rain.

While Peshawar Zalmi defeated the Quetta Gladiators in the second match by two wickets, the latter succeeded to notch up a one run victory in the high-scoring first play-off to qualify for the PSL final.

Also, Peshawar Zalmi suffered a big shock when their experienced all-rounder in Afridi received 12 stitches on his hand after getting injured during the third play-off against Karachi Kings in Dubai on Friday night to make exit from the event.

It was last chance for Afridi to play at home against a big crowd as he has already announced retirement from international cricket.

However, inform Kamran Akmal who hit a blistering century in the last play-off against Karachi Kings is the main source of inspiration for Peshawar Zalmi with the wicket-keeper top-scoring with aggregate 313 runs in 10 matches while averaging 31.30.

With experienced batsman Muhammad Hafeez and captain Sammy performing well, Peshawar Zalmi’s bowling department also looks good. Paceman Wahab Riaz who is the second best wicket-taker of the event with 13 wickets and Hassan Ali bagging 10 wickets are expected to throw up fine performances.

The Quetta Gladiators who held a practice session at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday will expect a good batting show from their inform opener Ahmed Shehzad who has aggregated 241 runs.

On the other hand, young Mohammad Nawaz who made it possible for the Quetta Gladiators to play the PSL final by not allowing Peshawar Zalmi to score seven runs in the last over of the first play-off has to give similar performance along with pacer Anwar Ali at an expectedly batting track of the Gaddafi Stadium.

Though Islamabad United and Karachi Kings could not qualify for the final, their coaches Dean Jones and Mickey Arthur have also arrived here to watch the final.

“I have now arrived in Lahore for the PSL final. The airport and police security were fantastic! Looking forward to having a good time!,” Jones said in a tweet.

Sir Vivian Richards as mentor of the Quetta Gladiators was scheduled to reach Lahore on late Saturday night along with Peshawar Zalmi’s foreign players and match officials.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2017